Was it all for naught, this first decade of the new millennium?
When deciding the decade’s top five stories, it was largely about hope of better days rather than titles. Joe Gibbs returning to the Redskins. Baseball back in Washington. Tiger Woods starting a golf tournament.
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But the dominant story of the ’00s was the murder of Redskins safety Sean Taylor. Indeed, it trails only Len Bias’ 1986 overdose death in my 31 years of covering local sports. That Taylor wasn’t a local and didn’t die locally, where Bias’ story was both, is the only reason for not calling it the biggest event of the last quarter century.
Taylor was killed in an alleged burglary attempt on Nov. 27, 2007 in Miami while rehabbing from an injury. He was the team’s best player and could have been a Pro Football Hall of Famer. The outpouring was overwhelming. Crowds gathered outside the team’s Ashburn facility just to be together. They still mourn him. His locker remains encased in glass at the stadium and training facility.
No. 2 was Gibbs’ return in 2004. It was a dream moment for Redskins fans, the return of the king. Gibbs reached the playoffs twice in four seasons and restored some semblance of a football operation to the team, but it was nothing like the coach’s first magical run.
No. 3 was baseball’s return in 2005 after a 34-year absence. It was a generational dream for many Washingtonians like myself. Many fans love the Nats even if the team has stunk. The feeling is bad baseball is better than no baseball, though it was getting ridiculous last season before a fair finish.
No. 4 was Maryland winning the 2002 NCAA men’s basketball championship. Reaching the Final Four for the first time the previous year was enough for many Terps fans, but returning in 2002 to win it all felt like a once-in-a-lifetime moment. This would have ranked No. 2 only many Georgetown, George Mason and Virginia fans don’t care.
No. 5 was the Tiger Tour coming to Congressional Country Club in 2007. The world’s best player returning major golf to Washington was a wow moment.
My favorite game of the decade? A close call between the Nats’ 2008 opener in the new stadium and Mason’s 2006 NCAA Regional title victory at Verizon Center. While the Mason game was something out of “Hoosiers,” Ryan Zimmerman’s walk-off homer in the stadium’s debut was electric.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
